The interprovincial moisture recycling in China and its tele-connected effects on socio-economy

Freshwater change is a crucial component of the planetary boundary. It has exceeded the safe operating space due to intensified human activities, highlighting the urgency of rationalizing the use and effective management of water resource. The moisture recycling is the process by which water enters the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration, travels with prevailing winds, and eventually falls as precipitation. It’s pivotal for transboundary water resource management, ecological protection and climate change adaptation. To analyze the spatial pattern of freshwater provisioning service flows through moisture recycling in each Chinese province, we used a moisture trajectory dataset from the UTrack model. The analysis reveals that the overall moisture flow within China is oriented towards the northeast, at an angle of 27 degrees north of east. Moisture in the northwestern, southwestern, and southern provinces flows eastward to generate precipitation, influenced by the westerlies. While in the eastern provinces, most of the moisture moves northwestward due to the influence of the southeast monsoon. Combining the socio-economic statistic data, we assessed freshwater provisioning service value of moisture in each province. Results indicate that Xizang has the most precipitation and surface water generated by moisture (200 km³), followed by Sichuan (122 km³) and Yunnan (95 km³). Regarding economic production, the impact of moisture on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is most significant in Sichuan (2312 billion RMB), Hubei (1976 billion RMB), and Henan (1669 billion RMB). Western regions of China have made significant contributions to the surface water resources and economic development of the eastern regions through moisture recycling. The difference of the moisture contributions in each province highlights the intricate dynamics of moisture flow and its significant role in regional resource allocation and sustainable development. The results can provide innovative insights and practical references to guide water resource management endeavors, especially in transboundary water management, thereby contributing to mitigating freshwater change risks.